Tag: marriage

The most basic promise and the whole premise of our relationship with God pertain to our being married to Him. That is the essence of what being ONE with God is all about! This letter is confronting the falling away from the faith that is prophesied to occur in the church in every generation. Please be sure to read the prior two articles as they give greater context to what is addressed is in this letter to the church.

These are not minor issues, they strike to the very heart of faith and whether one is walking according to the true faith or not.

To those given the precious gift of faith in Jesus Christ,

The gospel we now stand upon has been rejected by the elders and seemingly by the majority of the professing flock. We do not engage and contend with those the Lord has blinded as indeed our mission is only to the lost house of Israel. But to those precious few given the spirit of God, you need to be reminded of a primary sign of our salvation in the day of the Lord. We thank the Lord for this trial and the sifting of His flock and our living out the Scriptures.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Php 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

The fact we are being persecuted for defending the gospel is a sign of our salvation. We now suffer greatly for standing for the Lord’s righteousness. The day of the Lord is nigh at hand. We are told and warned of exactly what has unfolded if one has been given eyes to see.

1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

1Ti 4:2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;

1Ti 4:3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.

1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:

1Ti 4:5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

Those who have departed the faith are now forbidding you to marry Christ in faith. That is what keeping you under the law, the circumcision and carnal reasonings of the Jews does. We are not free to marry in the gospel until we die to that law.

Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

They also now command that you abstain from the meats of the gospel. Woe unto them who teach the opposite of the truth and what our Lord commands. The very body of Christ, His doctrine and your sacrificed life is what we must be nourished on to grow in Christ.

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Unless one is given to eat and take to heart those commandments now being rejected, they will in no wise inherit the kingdom of God. The time for milk is over.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

A strong rebuke is necessary and commanded to win back brothers who have fallen away and are now preaching to you another gospel and commandments of men.

Tit 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Ministers of the gospel preach faith in God and are helpers of each other’s joy teaching them to walk by faith in the Lord’s commands and promises.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

We preach the gospel, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Our faith cannot stand upon these many carnal reasonings under the law [Circumcision and without the law Uncircumcision]. We stand only in the power of God who can and will sanctify the unbelieving spouse in your house today and all mankind in due time.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Paul and we now warn everyone not to be enticed away by man’s wisdom and reasoning. The faith these men now teach is a weak faith with no power unto salvation. It is really unbelief in the promises of God. The gospel is now openly being mocked and many are making merchandise of it. They now tell you obeying the commands of God is likened to being “put on a leash”. They implicitly are saying His commands are too grievous for us to endure. The wisdom of the wise is perished.

Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

There are many warnings in the last days of deceivers, especially those of the false circumcision [i.e. those still bound by the law of Moses and their carnal reasoning, not walking in faith] who would entice us away from the gospel with clever words.

Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

The mystery of God is the marriageof God to His people through Christ thus becoming One. This occurs when we walk by faith with the full assurance of His promises and are not enticed away by deceivers.

Col 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Carnally minded men now contradict the promises of the Lord that says what God births within us overcomes the world and this applies within and without. Many read the Scriptures but so few actually believe in the power of God to do what He has promised.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Abraham is our example and the father of faith in believing that God could do what is impossible with man’s reasonings. This is the faith that imputes the righteousness of Christ upon one who believes and saves them from their sins. To be saved we cannot stagger on the promises.

Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Do not be deceived brethren but believe in the Lord and His promises. To be saved one stands solely on the promises of God and abides in His commandments. Those promises include that the believing spouse sanctifies the unbelieving spouse.

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

But this promise is so much bigger than just in your home. The entire marriage principle comes back to the salvation of all men and how the Lord is making all men “all in all” with the Father.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church [which in due time extends to all mankind]

If Christ is born in you, then we give up our lives and rests from our own works and now wait upon the Lord to make His enemies [within and without including an unbelieving spouse] a footstool. That is faith in action, the true work of God, resting from our own works and trusting God.

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

What you are now hearing instead are smooth and crafty words that sound godly and righteous but are another gospel and a falling away from the faith of Christ.

Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Isa 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

If one does not believe the gospel and its promises as it applies in our physical marriages, which are a shadow of the true marriage with God; then we do not believe in the Lord and have not the gift of faith. All men shall be saved and made one with God and Christ being married in the Spirit.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Gen 22:18 And in thy seed [Faith of Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

A little leaven and denial of Christ in our physical marriages extends and leavens the entire loaf in negating the gospel and promises of the Lord. Those the Lord uses to bring salvation stand only on faith and that is how the greater works are being done beginning at one’s own house and in their physical marriages in this age.

Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

The true Body of Christ is the believing spouse that is going to sanctify the entire world in the appointed times. Those of the false circumcision are telling you not to trust the Lord nor believe His promises on how believers sanctify unbelievers. They are now openly denying Christ and denying the gospel for which we have been emboldened to contend for the faith in the face of great adversity. We are on trial in this church right now for nothing other than our expressions of the true gospel and the hope and promises of that gospel that the Lord has put into our hearts. We are in good company and we rejoice in this trial.

Act 26:6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

Act 26:7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

Those being circumcised by their own works and reasonings are still bound by the law of sin and death. They now compel us to be circumcised like them and not to stand on faith. We are warned to beware.

Php 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Php 3:3 For we are the [true] circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Dogs are unbelievers still under the law returning again and again to their own vomit for spiritual food. They stand opposed to those given faith who do the commandments [don’t divorce in faith].

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

What men want to teach you about marriage does not hold up to the Lord’s high standards that command us to do not divorce in faith. This is another gospel built upon the law of carnal reasoning that appeals to all flesh.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

If one does not believe a believing spouse will sanctify an unbelieving spouse, one is actually denying the most basic promise of God and the Gospel. This is a massive fall from grace which is why Paul wrote so passionately and boldly to the Galatians to warn and admonish the church. This sifting is the Book of Galatians being lived by those being saved in this age.

Gal 1:8 But even if we [the Apostles because some are proven false in the end], or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

When one sees the false circumcision what Paul calls the circumcision as being those still bound by the law of carnal reasonings, then it becomes clear how the true ones suffer persecution for preaching and living the cross of Christ as the only way to salvation.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

That is the rule of God the true Israel of God is following.

Gal 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised [being bound the law of Moses and their carnal reasoning]; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Gal 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision [carnal law of Moses] availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision [carnal law of Gentiles – Rom 2:15] but a new creature.

Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

It is a great privilege to be chosen of God to stand on His Name and His Gospel and bear the stripes from people that claim they love Him and His servants. This trial is an incredible blessing for those given to live out the Scriptures and be rejected and hated for the hope of the gospel the Lord has planted in our hearts. Once we bear these stripes we no longer be troubled by those of the false circumcision that are dogs and outside the true faith.

Gal 6:17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

All preachers of the gospel live those words and bear stripes from their own people as well as the heathen and are paraded naked. Part of the high calling and the cost we pay when we defend the gospel.

2Co 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

2Co 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

2Co 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

2Co 11:27 In wearinessand painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

The whole plan of God falls away when one does not believe. May the Lord grant repentance to those who have fallen from His grace. The faithful will not stand idly but will warn, admonish and blow the trumpet saving all that can hear from this strange fire.

2Co 11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

This is not the church of any man. This is the church of Jesus Christ, He is the Head and in His church, the Lord gets all the glory and all things point back to His promises and His truths and not the reasoning of men.

We are standing in the face of tremendous opposition and contention and preach this gospel to the house of Israel. We are to warn not to be entangled again with the bondage of unbelief and our carnal reasoning.

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, [keep the law of carnal reasoning/ordinances]Christ shall profit you nothing. [there will be no sanctification]

Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

We are to fear God and not men. We are not bowing down to lies and unbelief that now masquerades as “teaching”. Those telling you to divorce in faith are denying the Lord and His Words and mixing a lie with their truth thus poisoning or leavening the whole.

1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Paul warns us that deceivers will use hypocrisy and speak lies [1Ti 4:1-5] to the people of God. We cannot address them all here but in due time they will be exposed and burnt up in the fire. One such cunning and craftily worded deceit was just shared with you about working out your own salvation. Yes, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. The work of God and who must work it in us is clear and it comes by faith.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The work of God starts and ends with the God-given gift of faith and not the law of circumcision and uncircumcision which are the carnal reasonings.

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe [STAND ON FAITH] on him whom he hath sent.

Woe to those at ease in Zion who have stopped pursuing the work of God in their heart and now lean back on their own understanding and wisdom. We say Amen to working out your own salvation but what that means needs to be put back under the law of faith and not the carnal law for the lawless that have not received the gift. That is why this saying is so truthful and the warnings of falling back into perdition. Our work for God is our faith and that is our obedience to the commands and promises of God.

Gal 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Gal 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

The Word of God needs no helper and it is not going to win any popular votes, the deception and allure of the circumcision is just too great for those not given faith. The Lord knows who are His and they are being quickened by the Truth. We are resting from our own works in faith, we no longer have to worry about what the Lord is doing. We just stand in faith.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We have great faith in the Lord and His promises and the blessings of keeping His commandments which are not complicated or grievous. We have been killed by the Jews for our testimony of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot be moved and wait upon our Lord who promised Elijah and those beheaded for their witness for the gospel that there is a remnant being saved by grace.

Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

Rom 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present timealso there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

We all have denied the Lord and acted in unbelief, everyone is guilty. Yet many continue to deny the Lord and betray Jesus Christ by their words and deeds and we pray fervently they to be granted repentance for their error.

The shaking promised of the Lord has begun. We are standing on faith and rejecting all the carnal reasonings of men who search the Scriptures but are not willing [Joh 5:39-40] to come to Him and stand on His commandments.

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

It is through faith in Christ and His commandments and promises that all men will be saved in their appointed time. True faith will stop the mouths of lions and quench the violence and destruction of strange fire [false gospels].

Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of [strange] fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Not many stand with us yet we know there is a remnant that are being saved and in that we stand strong in the hope of the gospel we defend with our very lives. We stand and wait upon the Lord.

2Ti 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

2Ti 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

As long as we are physically able, we will preach in this temple of God and blow the trumpet and preach the gospel to those precious few the Lord has given to hear and to believe. The Lord is coming quickly to those being saved in this age. Don’t let any man steal this crown from you.

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

We now put away those that fornicate with a false gospel and their carnal reasoning. We give them over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh so their spirit may be saved in their day of the Lord. We do not divorce those who have now become our enemies and that is our example in physical marriage. Those in faith, as the believing wife [bride of Christ], through our godly behavior, win back and sanctify our unbelieving spouse [who are of their father the devil] and reconcile them back as the Lord grants them repentance from their fornication.

2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him [put away], that he may be ashamed.

2Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The unbelieving in the gospel who are led by the Lord to depart, we let them depart and are under no further bondage.

1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

In the same way, our Lord is saving us we save those who still abide in sin and unbelief.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

A Defense of the Gospel on Marriage

This is a continuation of the topic of Marriage and Divorce. The original study can be found Clicking Here:

The gospel has always been contended with and needed to be defended by the Lord’s servants. So it is in this generation as the ones preceding.

Jud 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

On one side, we are not to keep endless reasoning and contending for the truth with those who do not receive our words. One either hears the words of truth or they cannot as it is all given of the Lord

Pro 20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.

Luk 10:16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.

Yet on the other hand, this dispute and the study on the High Calling of Marriage did not come to light hastily. There is a narrow way in all our conduct with regards to sharing the truth and correcting brothers who err and answering Pharisees [who are all of us in our time] who twist the Scriptures. This topic has been disputed for some time with several lengthy written admonitions, exchanges of letters with some live conferences. At what point and after how many rejections of truth does one not proceed forward and speak truth to those who have asked sincere questions? After several admonitions none of which were received, my spirit was stirred up by the Lord as the unbelief and idolatry in the city came to light.

Act 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Act 17:17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

The word of God is not bound by the unbelief of any man no matter who they are or where they have come from. The Word will go forth and that is exactly what the Lord has caused to happen here. I am led to respond to what has been shared by those who do not share my joy in the gospel which cast doubt upon the truth and twists the Scriptures to their own destruction. Those entrusted with the truth cannot sit by idly and bow to the reasonings of men when the very spiritual life of the Lord’s sheep, including our own, are at stake.

Eze 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

Eze 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

I hope to stir up as many as the Lord ordains to a higher level of understanding and faith in His promises. My flesh wants nothing of this trial that has contention and opposition with my fellow brethren. Yet it is all part of fulfilling the Word of God and our spiritual lives are at stake.

1Th 2:2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

1Th 2:3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

1Th 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Our understanding of the true knowledge and grace of God has us giving thanks to the Lord for all the things He is working with no exceptions.

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Even unbelieving spouses are the creatures of God we are not to refuse but trust the Lord that our living a godly life [prayer and fasting] WILL [not maybe] sanctify them.

1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

The words recently shared about cutting off the Edomites and Jezebel read by themselves seem compelling enough at face value yet they fail to stand the test of faith by which we are to try all spirits.

These OT verses was cited as a proof text to divorce under the gospel.

2Ch 21:11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.

2Ch 21:12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

2Ch 21:13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself:

This verse below was also referenced taken from Revelation, a signified book speaking to the day of the Lord experience for those in the faith. We are to flee from fornication always and especially in our day of the Lord. But to take this verse to support divorce contrary to the simple commands and the sum of the word is simply false.

Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Revelation 2:20 is speaking to us as the Lord’s straying spouse as we commit sin and entertain the lies and false doctrines of Jezebel another type and symbol for Babylon. Similarly, to the Edomites we are to separate from, meaning we are to take captive our fleshly and carnal thoughts [Jezebel spirit] and abide only in faith … be faithful. Neither of the cited verses comes anywhere close to speaking of divorcing our spouses as these next verses should make perfectly clear.

Israel is Always Surrounded and Abides in a Fornicating World

Fornication is sex outside of marriage plan and simple. The entire world is ruled and defined by physical and spiritual fornication. Spiritually speaking this is also known as idolatry as are all these named sins.

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Does the Lord take us out of the world so we can avoid fornication? No, He does not. We are purposefully left in a world full of fornication to navigate the narrow way and sanctify those the Lord puts into our path especially the spouses He gives us in marriage.

Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

The example of fornication being committed in the church is a second witness to this truth we are to abide in this fornicating world but not to be of it.

1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

Consistent with the sum and the truth, we are to put them away, to separate and not share spiritual meals with them and wait for the Lord to grant them repentance when we take them back and the sanctifying work of the Lord can continue.

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

It should be much clearer how we are to look at verses like those cited from Chronicles in dealing with fornication. Twisting them into supporting divorce is truly a departure from faith and another gospel.

We are absolutely to flee fornication, and not engage with it and allow its seduction to spoil the simplicity of our relationship with our true spouse.

1Co 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

1Co 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Living with an unbeliever who is by nature a spiritual fornicator never by itself causes the believer to commit fornication. As believers we are to obey God rather than men. Being submissive to one’s husbands does not expand to disobeying the Lord. We have so many admonishments about fearing God, the one in charge and not men, we can never say one is caused to commit sin because they are married to an unbeliever. It takes faith to obey the Lord under such pressure but that is the high calling of God.

Luk 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

Luk 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

It was even suggested that the Lord imputes sins on those who are not committing those sins. This is false. The Lord does not impute the unrighteousness of others upon spouses or anyone else. The soul that sins shall die and bear the punishment of the Lord. Outwardly no one is caused to commit any sin if they stand up for the Lord and do not fear men.

Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

I hope the spiritual lessons of the OT and Revelation about putting awayfornication, not sharing spiritual food with fornicators until they repent can be put back into their proper place and not be used as a launching pad for watering down the Lord’s commandments on marriage.

The Divorce of Israel

In Jeremiah 3, God tells of the promise of salvation for the new man being preceded by the cutting off [divorce] of the old man. The new man which comes to all men in the appointed time is never divorced if we read the whole of Jeremiah 3. The Lord sends us into captivity in Babylon. But this is all before our NEW MAN is married to the Lord under the law of Faith. We cannot forget we are in a new age when the gospel has come upon us. This brings with it the new and much higher standard for marriage meaning no more divorce. The law is not longer ruling us and we are reverting back to how it was from the very beginning just as the Lord said in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke.

Mar 10:4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

Mar 10:5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

Mar 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

Divorce is of the flesh, it is on the other side of the veil where men are carnal and bound by the righteousness of their own carnal reasonings and not faith in God. That mindset must be put away and divorced in order for us to receive the gospel and be saved. Hence we see it being done in Spirit by the Lord to Israel after the flesh.

Jer 3:7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

But stopping here and claiming the Lord gives us the example to divorce is not the sum of the word or even the point the Lord is primarily making in Jeremiah 3. Just a few verses later the sum of the word begins to harmonize perfectly with the gospel of faith. The Lord does not divorce the one who is being saved [being sanctified] by the gospel but He does speak of things that are not yet as if they are [Rom 4:17].

Jer 3:14 Turn [repent], O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

We are certainly to separate from those [within and without] that bring lies to serve Christ but not by disobeying the marriage commands. This was the error of the Pharisees, the traditions of men that the Lord rebuked sharply. Justifying disobedience of one command by pointing to another command is proof one is still under the law and not walking by faith. It is in the gospels and here is the Matthew version the Jews wise in their own eyes justified not taking care of one’s parents since they were giving their gifts instead to the church. This is the leaven of the Pharisees otherwise known as hypocrisy.

Mat 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

Mat 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Mat 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

Mat 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Lord willing, we will not continue to make the commandment of God of none effect by mixing the law for the lawless with the gospel. We are coming out of Babylon; we are coming out of Tyre where our carnal thoughts and reasonings [dust] are being mixed with the waters of life and thereby mudding them and keeping the sheep in confusion.

Eze 26:12 And they [Tyre/Babylon] shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.

The Lord rebukes His shepherds who have muddied up His clear commandments with the residue of their feet.

Eze 34:18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?

The Lord has pleasure in the death of His saints. This means when they rest from their own works, know and trust that He is working all things for the counsel of His will. That is the true work of God that those saved in this age will attain to. Giving up your life and believing the gospel and the Lord working all things for the greater good is how we will be saved.

Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

This contention is a fight of faith either to death or to life. The Lord knows who are His and none of His littles will be lost to a corrupted gospel. Christ suffered for us, dying for us to leave us an example and that was done while we yet sinned and abode in unbelief. That is our example and no reasoning of the Scriptures can change that truth.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

The commandments for marriage are really simple. Even a child given faith can understand them. Yet men have always made them complicated and that is exactly what has happened here with the incorrect mixing of the old versus the new. Only the Lord can solve this issue, one is either given to believe or they are not. With that gift comes the requirement of suffering.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake

The old has passed away and is no longer of any effect when we are being saved by the Lord in our Day of the Lord. Those still reasoning under the law and what was lawful back then and applying it to the last day are operating outside of the faith.

In Day 3, we are far from perfect at the beginning. Yet the Lord, despite our unbelief, our adultery and fornication, does not divorce His unfaithful and disobedient bride. Instead, He operates and provides for us the example we are to follow with our fellow man and our physical spouses. He seeks reconciliation and long suffers with us and ultimately wins the day.

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

But we don’t go away from our spouse we remain married, seek to win them over by our godly behavior, and seek reconciliation waiting on the Lord.

The law for the lawless and carnal nations of men, all of it 100%, including all the references to divorce are just a shadow of the good things to come [Heb 10:1] when the “good news” gospel comes to us. The OT does however prophesy that Christ would marry us when faith is born in us and we become converted. This happens in our day of the Lord when Christ comes the second time for salvation. From that point forward divorce is never ever an option again.

Isa 62:1 For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

Isa 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Isa 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Isa 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

Isa 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin [one receiving the gospel is a virgin], so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Returning to our first love in the day of the gospel, we return to how it was before the law was given. It is only those that trust the Lord and His promises who will receive the blessing of Abraham which is salvation.

Gal 3:14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The law of Moses which is also the law of the Gentiles, was added because of transgressions as a temporary place of confinement until the seed of Christ is born in every man.

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.

Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Gal 3:19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

But now that faith has come, if indeed it has come to us, then we are no longer bound by that law and are now free to marry Christ.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

It is our failure to understand the stark differences in the two covenants and the fact the marriage with Christ only comes after we have come out of the second covenant having died to that law for the lawless. This is huge if you can receive it. Only when we die to that law, only then are we free to marry Christ, NOT BEFOREHAND. The Lord is not an adulterer or a polygamist who marries someone who is already married.

Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? [your father the devil, the carnal mind]

Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

Rom 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

The above is the correct way to see what Paul was saying and in no way does he contradict the Lord and suggest one can leave their spouse by deciding they are “spiritually dead”.

It is incorrect and sin [not of faith] to bring forward what was lawful and just under the law of Moses/Gentiles into our Day 3 covenant of faith. That is the very error the book of Galatians among others admonishes us not to do. Under that law there is a lot of reasoning to do in one’s mind.

What is enough fornication which is also idolatry to endure?

How many times do I allow it before I call a lawyer to seek divorce?

How many teeth must be knocked out before I can seek divorce?

How many birthday parties can I allow in my house or holidays to be celebrated, all of which are spiritual fornication do I tolerate before I divorce my spouse?

ETC ETC, the possible questions and situations are endless as there is no standard and singleness of Christ’s command with this reasoning.

This is being under the law of Moses and is not of faith. All questions and reasonings with no exacting standard. All certainly lawful under that law and just in the eyes of all the Gentiles [Rom 2:15 – the world] but that is no longer our standard, we must believe and trust 100% in the Lord.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

We are not married until we repent and believe [not just hear] the gospel. Then we as the Bride are being made ready in our Lake of Fire experience.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen [bought in the fire Rev 3:19], clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

The watchmen in the flock will first fall asleep as all the disciples fell asleep before they are reawakened to Truth. I too have been sleeping until just awakened by the Lord so it is not about any man but about the Lord. It is while we sleep that the enemy comes in and plants the tares [lies and false doctrines], some of which are now being manifested as tares [Matthew 13]. May we be awakened to the truth and run to the mountains of Christ.

Lam 4:11 The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

Lam 4:12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

The Lord divorcing Israel in the flesh is not a physical reality, it is a shadow and an example we are to learn from in our day of the Lord. That is the reasoning it was written down for us [1Co 10:11, 1Pe 1:10-12]. Under our new covenant, the Lord will never ever divorce us but only put us away for a time until we are reconciled back. That is our example to do unto others and we wait for the Lord to bring all men to us so they will be saved. We are in the last days and need to be very circumspect as we are told many false prophets have gone into the world bringing the narrow way of truth into condemnation.

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

This is a matter of spiritual life or death. Unless and until we are dead to the law of the carnal reasonings, we will in no way enter into life. The truth which is so simple a child can understand is being rejected by many in favor of deep sayings contrary to the most basic promises of the Lord. For those few given the gift to believe the gospel, it is all now simple and spoken plainly to know the truth.

Joh 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

Joh 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Do Not Fear Men

Much of the New Testament deals with Christ and the Apostles’ contending with those wise in the flesh who knew the Scriptures but did not know Christ. Who are those Jews today? How do we live out these words and experiences in the New Testament today? We live them out by experiencing the rejection and influence of men, the Scribes, Pharisees and Chief Priests of today when living in the Israel of God. Here are three witnesses to this “fear of men” and it is holding back immature believers in standing up for the Truth.

Joh 7:12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.

Joh 7:13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

Here is a second example of fear of men.

Joh 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him[defend the truth], lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Our fellow brethren are the parents of the blind man who now sees. They will at first defer being a witness out of fear and send the Pharisees back to their son that now has had his spiritual eyesight healed.

Joh 9:21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

Joh 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

I hope these words and Scriptures clarify some things and strengthen you all to fight the fight of faith. We encourage and embolden each other to make the defense of the gospel and content for the faith no longer fearing men.

Php 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

The fields of the land are ripe for the harvests but there are so few laborers willing to truly work and believe on the Lord. Again here is the work that needs to be done.

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

We have to endure these same trials and rejections by our own people to fulfill the Word of God. Some angels [messengers of God and the gospel] have left their first habitation and departed the gospel.

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jud 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

This is all of us in our time, we all do it as we must live by every word. We all begin well but come to a point where we are seduced into another gospel and bewitched.

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

Lord willing, the truth will continue to be preached in the temple and its courts despite the objections of the modern day Pharisees. This is the boldness of the Lord’s true preachers who have been freed from being bound in unbelief and now fear God and not men.

Act 5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

Act 5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

Act 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

Act 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

The last days are upon those being saved in this generation. The promises of God are not “maybe” or dependent upon “X, Y or Z” happening. Those promises are not dependent upon any reasonings of men. They are only dependent upon faith and whether one believes the Lord under the law of faith or not. Very few do. Faith in God must become our anchor and that includes all the promises of God even those about how an unbeliever is won over and sanctified or led of the Lord to depart. These verses in Hebrews speaking of the maturing process in the faith struck me as being very appropriate to bring to your remembrance.

Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful [in the work of believing], but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Heb 6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Heb 6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Heb 6:19 Which hopewe have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

We all will desire and seek a plan B when weak in the faith in case the Lord is not faithful to His promises. Our carnal mind will want to impute doubt [unbelief] into the promises of God including these:

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

Remember that where unbelief abounds, not many mighty works of the Spirit get accomplished. The word of God is never bound and will always go forth and be preached where the Lord sends forth His few. The truth has now been preached twice to Israel on this subject and will continue to stand right here and wait on the Lord.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Those in the faith have no dominion over anyone’s faith but are to remain a helper of anyone’s joy and ready to answer questions of the hope that lies within us.

Like this:

The Very High Calling of Marriage

Background:

A recent study in the women’s fellowship that focused on the Lord’s commandments and promises was challenged and said to be condemning believers to loveless marriages. Those original studies can be found here [Part 1 and Part 2] and it needs to be affirmed that there was no error found in either study. This deeper study is a more thorough witness to the Word of God regarding marriage that is a much bigger lesson than just physical marriage to those given to receive it. The standards for marriage be they spiritually with our Lord or physically with our God-given spouse, are far higher than we first believed. Not many are able to receive the truth of the gospel and even fewer to walk it out in faith; however, the Lord has chosen some to be His preacher and go to those prepared to hear.

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

This study has come with much hardship and great dissension within the elders of the church. The Lord is continuing to sift His flock through new trials of faith all of which is prophesied throughout the prophets. Those in the faith know the Lord will lose none of His little ones and those same few sheep will hear His voice. Those standing in the truth of the gospel will tarry individually for those still sincerely searching for the truth as we are commanded. However, this study which has been requested for many weeks will now go forth and the Lord will further His work.

The word of God is not bound by men’s lack of understanding or lack of faith. It will go forth and be preached and save those who are given to believe, whether men are pleased with it or not.

2Ti 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Getting this marriage issue correct is far greater than just knowing how to behave in our physical marriages. Marriage is the symbol and parable of our relationship with the Lord and the lessons learned about spiritual marriage apply to the physical and vice-a-versa.

Introduction:

Those in the true faith strive to obey the Lord and that means enduring through all the trials the Lord puts into our path. Those in true faith being dead to the law of sin and death [their carnal reasonings] are resting from their own works and stand in Christ. To those in faith, the simple commands of the Lord are clear and there is no allowance for divorce in any case or situation. We wait and trust in the Lord and do as we are commanded in seeking restoration if that be His will. This study will expose the errors of Babylon that continue to trouble many in seeing the truth and are still being used by the adversary to muddy the waters of life and sow confusion. The calling for the faithful few coming out of the chosen few that come out of the many called is truly high.

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The function of marriage [Joh 6:63] is a shadow of our relationship with Christ as His bride and He as our husband. Our marriage to Christ is for life and that is how the Lord wants His people to view and act on their physical marriages. Being married in spirit or in clay, we become one with one another and it that view those in the Body are married to one another and are never to be permanently divorced. These commands are to be obeyed in the same way we are not to physically commit adultery, fornicate, get drunk with wine, murder, etc.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

So right here the principle of oneness and the inseparableness of marriage is shown as the commandment of the Lord. The Lord does not have two standards or rules for Himself and for us. There is only one standard and we are to strive to follow His example and life in all things.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There are many more witnesses to this to establish it solidly as truth and the doctrine of Christ. The Lord never leaves us or forsakes us and that is our example to our spouses when we are married physically.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Marriage as the spiritual example shows that it was always intended by the Lordto be for life. The exceptions most believe comes from the law of the Gentiles [the law of sin and death – carnal reasoning] and not from faith and belief in the gospel. This is the same as leaning on one’s own understanding and is a departure from the faith. The Lord’s own words tell us that there is no provision made for divorce or putting away from the beginning as we will soon see. Our obedience [love] is being completed as we grow in faith, stand in the face of our suffering and wait for the Lord to finish His work making no provision for the flesh.

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love [obey] the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Keeping Christ’s commandments is the end goal and purpose of the Lord’s work in us.

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Pro 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

Our marriage to Christ only occurs in the day of the Lord [Day 3]. This is important to understand as what was lawful and righteous under the law, before our day of the Lord and marriage to Christ, is no longer good enough to enter into the kingdom of God. Scribes and Pharisees are us before we know the Lord and before we are given faith to believe the gospel. When faith has come, the standard for righteousness is much much higher.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Pharisees argued with Christ about the way of life and those arguments will continue in our life when Christ comes to us and we begin to walk by faith and follow Him. Those being made righteous walk by faith trusting nothing of themselves and their carnal reasonings that were all perfectly lawful under the law for a carnal nation, yet we cannot enter into life and know the Lord while we are bound to that law.

Eze 20:25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

It is those few given faith upon whom the gospel is received and believed meaning the time of reformation is come to them.

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Christ the reformer, who changed what is lawful under faith, never uttered the word divorce in the times of reformation. Divorce is never an option under the law of faith [gospel] as the commandment is clear and simple: what God has joined let no man separate. Those that cannot receive the hard to accept yet simple truths show their unbelief and continued bondage to the law of sin and death in wanting to reason the Lord’s commandments. Hopefully, the truth will be heard and they will be set free of that bondage.

We are all hardened in unbelief at first, rich with our knowledge of the Scriptures and outward obedience. Yet we lack one critically important thing. This trial brings new light on this parable.

Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich manshall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The true gospel is not received or meant for those who are rich, it is meant and received only by the poor [Luk 4:18] who of themselves are counting on the Lord in all things.

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In the day of the Lord, our wedding day with the Lord, it is no longer about the knowledge and our reasonings of the Scriptures which is a continuation of our being under the law and seeking to justify ourselves. That is what Pharisees and Sadducees do as they search the Scriptures trusting on that knowledge [riches] yet being unwilling to obey the simple commands. Such ones think they are awake to life yet are sleeping until awakened when Christ comes, and His commandments arise within us.

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, [MY COMMANDMENTS]that ye might have life.

Truth is rejected and those in unbelief will follow men who come in their own name with their spiritual riches and reasonings.

Joh 5:43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name [his own carnal reasonings about the commandments], him you will receive.

Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Sadly, some are now falsely believing that since their husband is “spiritually dead” and reasoning they could bear more fruit elsewhere have made plans and inquiries regarding departing their marriage via divorce. This is a total twisting and perversion of Paul’s words that Peter warned us we would experience that is called the error of the wicked.

2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

2Pe 3:16 As also in all his [Paul’s] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Note the intro of Peter reference to Paul mentioning the cross and our longsuffering to find salvation. Those standing in the faith will not be complaining to God they are condemned to a loveless marriage, they will know this is the cross, the longsuffering to which those in faith are appointed and in that they should be rejoicing.

Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

May the Lord open the eyes of understanding, so these errors are spotted for what they are — a stark departure from the true faith and living God. Lord willing, we are teaching all to stand by faith and wait on the Lord, letting no man take their crown by coming down from their cross.

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

The Gospel: Jesus Christ and Him Crucified

It is important to remind ourselves what is the gospel and how that is central to our faith. We are to believe the gospel and all the related promises of God. The gospel is also known as the “gospel of grace”. It is all about trials and us going to the cross and trusting in the Lord and the example He gave us.

Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

When we begin to reason the marriage or any commandments, we are being moved by another gospel that has one reasoning under the law of sin and death when one should or can depart a marriage. This is known as adding to the Word of God and that will bring further plagues and deceptions upon us if we are not given to repent and believe the gospel.

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book

We are told many times we must endure to end, finish our race in order to be saved and be given the overcoming of our sins. We won’t make it if we come down from the cross. All such reasoning is our carnal mind that will naturally seek and reason away sufferings. It is not of faith but from our father the devil who is rebuked when the truth is spoken.

Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

When we twist the Lord’s commandments, we are fallen from grace and our faith [is now unbelief] is said to be in vain.

2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of Godin vain.

Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law [Rom 2:15 – carnal reasonings of Gentiles]; ye are fallen from grace.

Not many mighty works of the Spirit [i.e overcoming] are done if we abide in the midst of unbelievers. This is why the canker that has been spread about marriage needs to get out of our fellowship. It casts even more doubt upon the Lord’s promises if only we would believe.

Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Mat 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

This dispute manifested when efforts to provide answers to “practical questions” about marriage and divorce was initiated. Immediately one in truth could see how this took the conversation away from Christ and turned it back to man’s own carnal reasonings under the law. The trumpet has been blown via this study and Lord willing, faithful watchmen will continue to expose these errors and departures from the only true faith that will save us.

Rather than entertain speculative hypothetical “what if” questions, acting in faith, would have us just believing the Lord. His promises to us include that He won’t give us a trial beyond what we can handle [1Co 10:13]. Is the Lord not capable of making sure NONE of His little ones is abused to the point of no return? Of course, He is more than capable, yet our carnal reasoning will continue to doubt and keep us in unbelief.

Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [trusting in his own reasonings and wisdom] to enter into the kingdom of God.

Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

When we even begin to entertain the idea of divorce as a believer, we are entertaining our carnal reasonings. All of it is doubting the promises of the Lord who tells us He is capable of ensuring none of his sheep are put into an untenable situation. When we go beyond what is written it is not of faith but carnal works under the law. Here are two witnesses proving the Lord will not bring any trial we cannot handle.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation [trial, grace, THE GOSPEL] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace[the fiery trials]according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

We must be found faithful in the end. This means we will not abandon the gospel but live it and declare it boldly in opposition to man’s wisdom and reasonings.

1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

If we claim to be Jesus Christ, of His Body and of His faith, then we best get with the program of knowing it is appointed we be crucified and lose our life. The bar is truly high and carrying a cross is harder than we thought just yesterday. We will learn to trust in the Lord and His promises to deliver us from evil and not try us beyond what we can bear. When the Lord comes to your personal earth [Luk 18:8] will He find faith? We know from the sum it will indeed be very few in this age, the vast majority of the chosen few will fall away from the truth and follow the fables of their carnal reasoning.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Those not ordained to have faith will depart and walk no more with Christ once they are told how high the bar is and what the Lord demands from us. This includes disciples who believed and walked with Christ for years even the one holding the bag of riches [knowledge of the Scriptures].

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Anyone reasoning hypothetical questions and advising women to seek a divorce in order “to bear fruit unto the Lord” or do good works, has already departed from the faith and remain under the law of the Gentiles.

Gal 5:4 Christ becomes of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Gal 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obeythe truth?

Gal 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

The will of God is that we abstain from fornication [spiritual and physical] and walk by faith in Him and His commandments alone. We are not to give heed to these reasonings and carnal questions which are in fact spiritual fornication.

1Ti 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity [obedience] out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

The end of the commandment is a clear conscience towards Christ. The new command is much higher than “love your neighbor as yourself”.

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

We are to love others including our spouse as Christ loved us. A truly godly husband or wife acting in faith is sanctifying her spouse in Day 3 as they submit to Christ and give up their life [and carnal reasonings] to die in order to sanctify themselves and their spouse. It is the same example the Lord gave to His people to follow. As the Lord was sent, so He sends His true ones to die for the sinners and unbelievers [Joh 20:21].

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us [we are His spouse]

If we are unwilling to do this our faith is feigned meaning we are not in the faith and have fallen from the true grace of God. Christ is not attractive to anyone’s flesh, His commands are deemed too harsh and unloving by our carnal mind [Isa 53:2]. Christ rebuked the Pharisees strongly for trusting in their own knowledge and reasonings and unwillingness to come to Him with childlike faith. We are all those Pharisees and will naturally want to please the flesh and our hearers with smooth words that sound godly but are a departure from the law of faith.

Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Isa 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

The time to be on guard for this is now, in the last days [Day 3] as the Lord is saving His people.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

This truth that is the gospel is not going to be popular. We need to be extremely wary of reasoning away any of His commands the very force Paul dealt with and wrote often about in his epistles to warn us of the same.

Prisoners of Christ preach the commandments and singleness of the gospel knowing it is never going to be well received and will instead bring persecution and much opposition from our own spiritual family.

1Th 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

1Th 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

1Th 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

The simple truth and our obedience to those commandments is far better than volumes of knowledge that twist away the judgment of the Lord and make provision for flesh.

Pro 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice [judgment].

Our trials, even severe trials in marriage, are to teach us and produce the fruit of the Spirit in us. Lord willing, we will learn to trust the Lord in all things and wait on Him. Ruling and reigning with Christ over our flesh requires us losing that life to gain spiritual life. Our calling is extremely high as are the costs!

Mat 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

Luk 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

“Disciples indeed” will be differentiated from disciples when the heat of the Lord’s trials is turned on and we are told to stand in faith and trust Him. Few are given to continue but some will hear and believe the gospel.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

We are to continue in the commands and not to seek to exit a trial. Our doing so wrests away the judgment of God against our carnal life the very experience that is saving us from our sins. So, it is with all of the Lord’s commandments and the accompanying trials He brings to accomplish our obedience and that includes issues pertaining to marriage.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

The Simple Marriage Commands

The risen Christ within usis the rising of His commandments within us! It is those commands to which we should look to establish what is good and acceptable in His sight. The most basic commandment regarding marriage is to stay married and not seek to depart from what the Lord has joined together. Regarding marriage, the high calling is not difficult to pin down.

1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, [this is a command] Let not the wife depart from her husband:

1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, [here is another command of the Lord]let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

We need to be watchful for the Pharisee spirit within us, that is yet carnal and wants to reason away the simplicity of the commandment. Here are some more witnesses to the simple truth that divorce is not an option under the law of faith, it only being for the carnally minded who are bound by the law.

Mat 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together,let not man put asunder.

It is such a basic truth that the Lord causes and works all things [Eph 1:11] and has already determined every day and minute detail of our life [Psa 139:16, Isa 46:10]. This means that all of our physical marriages were ordained and caused by the Lord. The Lord did it, He joined us together with our spouse be they a believer or an unbeliever. We or no man is to be taking any action of cause to separate what the Lord has joined together.

No matter what the trials the Lord gives us, we are to stay married and trust and wait on the Lord, striving to obey Him in all ways. Divorce is all related to the law for the lawless not for those that walk by faith in Christ and believe in the gospel. Pharisees do not know the Lord and do not have faith and will reason against Christ [the Word, the commands]. Christ uses this to teach His disciples, those with ears to hear, the difference between the law of Moses/Gentiles and the law of faith.

Mat 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away[G630] his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Here we have some added details and contrast given by the Lord. These are some of the most butchered and mistranslated verses in all the Scriptures.

Putting Away versus Divorce

It is critically important to know the difference between “putting away” and “divorce” as all the orthodox doctrines have it wrong as do the translators in nearly every version. These differences between divorce and putting away are as applicable to spiritual marriage as they are to physical marriage. Referencing how we behave in trials with our brethren, to whom we are married in Spirit, will be a huge reinforcement and witness to how we are to act in our physical marriages with divorce and putting away. Remember, physical marriage is just a shadow of a larger spiritual principle.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

These verses have been horribly mistranslated and continue to this day to give cover to the carnal reasoning and confusion on what are truly simple commandments of the Lord. Here is the NKJV

Mat 5:31 (NKJV) “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

Mat 5:32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

The NKJV words bolded in every case are not the word for divorce. The subject being discussed is putting away if you look into the actual Greek words. Here is the KJV which gets it right in two of the three places G630 is referenced.

Mat 5:31 (KJV) It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away [G630] his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away [G630] his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced [G630 – should say put away] committeth adultery.

The reason it is considered adultery if one marries someone who is put away is that such a one is not divorced, remains married and is thus unable to marry another.

There is another blockbuster error that has sowed much confusion over the commands about putting away. One needs to understand that “putting away” a spouse for any cause other than fornication causes the one disobeying the Lordto commit adultery. It is an error to say the one put away is caused to commit adultery as nearly every bible translation says. Such reasoning is contrary to the Lord and who is to bear the inequity of sins.

Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him [the one doing the sinning, committing adultery by their disobedience]

Adultery is our disobedience to the Lord’s commandments spiritually speaking. Said another way, it is our unfaithfulness to our Lord or His commandments. The translators add to the carnal confusion over this by choosing to use the word “her” for G846 which adds to the twisting of this commandment. The correction to this verse, which is 100% consistent with how the Greek word is used elsewhere is shown below.

Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her [G846 – himself or the same (i.e. the one doing the act of putting away)] to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is put away [divorced] committeth adultery.

The wrongly put away wife does not commit adultery just because they have been put away. What the Lord is saying, again consistent with the definition of spiritual adultery, is the disobedient husband [spouse] who puts away his wife [spouse] without cause is committing spiritual adultery with His Lord. The works of our flesh in all manner come back to adultery [our disobedience] which always seems to listed first in a list of sins.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness …

The Pharisees asked Christ about “putting away” in Matthew 19 not divorce and His answer was changing the law on putting away. Divorce was only mentioned by the Lord in His answer as he contrasted what was lawful under the law of Moses/Gentiles versus the new standard. The Lord in giving new commands is speaking about PUTTING AWAY a spouse, not divorce. As is the case for all things under the law of faith, the bar for obedience is being raised considerably.

Under the law for a carnal nation, one could put away their spouse for any reason so long as they gave a writ of divorce. Under the law of faith, one can only put away [NOT DIVORCE] for the cause of fornication. Both aspects of the “putting away” command are being raised to a higher standard. The reasons for putting away are being limited to just fornication and the option to permanently cut them off by divorce has been removed. The bar for those that walk by faith, trusting the Lord in all things has truly been raised HIGH.

Nothing in these so-called divorce verses in the Beatitudes, properly divided, that actually speak about “putting away’ are suggesting anyone in the faith can divorce their spouse and do so in the faith. They are speaking about putting away, doing the same thing the Lord does to us, and commands we do to those who spiritually fornicate in the Body of Christ to whom we are married. The Lord is 100% consistent in what He does with us, what we are told to do to our brethren spiritually and how we are to handle issues in the physical.

Only the Lord can and will end marriages He ordains and causes to be ended. Paul speaks the Lord’s commandments consistently as the Lord and tells us not to depart [divorce] our marriages.

1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

1Co 7:11 But and if she depart [in a putting away only situation], let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband [leave/forsake/divorce]put away[not G630]his wife.

As the sum of the word shows us with eyes to see when addressing all these aspects of fornication, we are to separate for a time and a season always holding out the hope of reconciliation.

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross [our dying daily, carrying the cross, walking only by faith], by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Being married in Spirit to our fellow brethren, the spiritual or physical “Corinthian” fornicator is not to be permanently cut off or divorced forever. They are to be put away with the intent they will be reconciled back in due time. The Lord does not make it confusing, He is consistent in how the commands are applied.

1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

1Co 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

The law of faith has us staying unmarried and seeking reconciliation with our spiritual and physical spouses rather than divorce.

2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Christ dies for His enemies while they yet sin in order to reconcile them back to Himself. In the same way and example, we don’t forsake our spouses, we seek reconciliation and wait upon the Lord.

1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away [not G630 – leave or forsake] his wife.

Those holding to false doctrines and causing divisions in the church [the fellowship to whom we are married in spirit] are spiritual fornicators and they are to be marked and put away [not divorced]. It is the same thing as in our physical marriages. Putting away is intended to bring shame to those fornicating and in due time lead them to be reconciled back. Here are two more examples of putting away a fornicator.

2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him [put him away], that he may be ashamed.

2Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid [put them away]them.

The hope of putting someone away is to keep ourselves undefiled and let the Lord bring His wrath and destruction to turn their hearts back [reconcile]. It works the same in our spiritual and physical marriages.

1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Christ puts us away when we spiritually fornicate but always accepts us back when we repent.

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

The Lord takes us back when we repent, and ultimately the Lord will bring the fire to accomplish that repentance in our day of the Lord.

Isa 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning [repentance] and rest [from your carnal reasonings of self] shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Under no circumstances are we to leave via divorce and disobey the commandment. Doing so is never of faith in the promises of the Lord including this one.

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

To the carnal mind, this will seem like a condemnation to a loveless marriage, but to those who believe and trust in the Lord, it unleashes great power [Christ in us] to work many mighty miracles. This is giving all to Christ, the true tithe that will result in many miracles and overcoming, even the Lord sanctifying our unbelieving spouse. Yet so few have faith.

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing [power to overcome, strength to endure, faith, etc.], that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Welcome to the lake of fire and what walking by faith and carrying a cross is all about! It is a much higher standard and hotter furnace than we first believed. Those being saved in that day learn to wait and trust in the Lord. If He breaks the marriage up, by His causing the unbeliever to depart, then we are no longer under any bondage as happened in several examples in our fellowship.

1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

A godly wife acting in faith can lawfully in faith separate for a time with the consent of their husband, but they cannot divorce in the law of Christ. They stay unmarried and seek to be reconciled back to their husbands in the appointed times as the Lord makes happen.

We return to the Lord, our first love in Day 3, walking out the gospel, carrying our cross to death that has us striving for the high calling God commands as it was from the very beginning. In the beginning, before the law of Moses/Gentiles was given, there was no option for putting away much less divorce.

Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

That is the high calling of God and where faith brings us back to when we are released from the law of carnal reasonings. It is a hard saying but divorce by the believer for any reason, is contrary to faith and there are zero exceptions. This is the message throughout the Scriptures. The reconciling with Judah, the two sisters, Hosea’s unfaithful wife, the prodigal son, the dream is one and the Lord is 100% consistent in His commands and the road to eternal life. When we receive the gospel, Christ marries us.

No matter how or where we are called, we are to abide there and suffer for righteousness sake and obey the Lord and stand in faith. The fruit of righteousness is borne in all of us through our many sufferings.

1Co 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised.` Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

Unbeliever not Pleased to Dwell with the Believer

These verses have also been widely misunderstood and abused in continuing to encourage and defend those who claim to be in faith to divorce their spouse. Hopefully, the huge distinction of putting away versus divorce puts these verses back into their proper perspective. They speak to PUTTING AWAY not DIVORCE as Paul is by no means now contradicting the Lord and his prior words in the same chapter.

1Co 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

1Co 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

If the Lord wants to end a marriage, He can and will do it. He can easily make the unbeliever to depart lest we forget how sovereign the Lord is. We of little faith need only to believe and wait on the Lord.

Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Pro 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Many say they believe the Lord works all things but when their faith is tried on hard issues like marriage trials, they abandon the faith proving to be reprobates.

The true believer being made a prisoner [bondservant] for Christ and never moves or departs from where the Lord has placed him. They bear their reproach, knowing its good work in them and wait on the Lord.

Psa 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psa 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

Only the Lord can open and close doors of life that all mankind pass through. We are learning of His Sovereignty in all things in our trials and waiting on Him to deliver us from all our adversaries within and without.

Jer 15:21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We are to be freed from serving our flesh and the old man as we no longer live for ourselves but unto the Lord.

1Co 7:21 Art thou called being a servant [of your flesh and lusts] care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

Paul’s main point here is for us to serve the Lord not our own bellies. We have been bought and now belong to Him as a believer and all of our behavior is to be conformed into godliness. Our service to God is our work for God and that work is quite simply summed up by our Lord.

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Marriage Trials Produce the Fruit of the Spirit

We serve the Lord well when we suffer for the sake of righteousness. We can never in our doctrine imply that being bound to an unbeliever in marriage would hinder one from bringing fruit unto the Lord. That opens the door to the carnal mind to come in and destroy the commands of God. Such avoidance is not how God works. We don’t avoid trials to bring fruit unto God, we go through the trial including being in marriage with an unbeliever.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

If we suffer for doing good, that finds favor with the Lord. That is what staying in a hard marriage does. Without a word we win our spouses over by our conduct and their sanctification process begins. The Lord puts us in those trials to try us and refine us as we suffer with Him. We never seek to escape and wrest the judgment of God away.

1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

And another witness.

1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing [obeying God’s commands], than for evil doing.

We are constantly warned about deception and deceivers that can creep in unawares and lead us astray from keeping His commandments. Those in faith are in the last day and we are warned to stand firm and not to let any many steal our crown and move us away from the simple child life faith in the Lord to deliver us from all evil. These admonishments are everywhere.

Col 1:22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish, and without charge in His sight,

Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard and which was proclaimed in all the creation under Heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister,

The subject of marriage is an area the enemy has feasted upon the people of God. Suffering is our appointment and that will only increase the further we stand for the truth against much opposition and endure in our day of the Lord.

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

When one infers a believer should depart an unbeliever so they can bear fruit unto God, they have departed the faith and reverted back to carnal reasoning. The trials, the suffering, the afflictions is the grace of God that is saving us and that we must walk through. It is our doing righteousness in the trials that produces the fruit of the Spirit.

Christ’s Christ will save the entire world [their husband, their wife, all mankind] in the appointed time. This begins at home with our physical spouses yet so few truly have the faith to believe that. We either have the Faith of Christ and act on that faith or we do not. Reaping what we sow applies to our faith.

Mat 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith let it be to you.

When we have faith as small as a mustard seed that seeds says believe in Me and lean not on your own understanding. The truth of the Word says we can and will win our spouse back. With God nothing is impossible, but we must have faith for the Lord to work His miracles. That is the way we enter into Christ producing the fruit of the Spirit.

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [obedience to commands]of the wives;

1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

When we find ourselves in difficult and challenging circumstances, we should always seek the Lord first [His Commandments]. Asking Him to come to us and help us, bringing His commands into His Kingdom is how we stand, grow in faith and bear the trial and thereby produce the fruit of righteousness.

Those acting in faith do not seek to depart a marriage even when it is hard and full of trials. Those trials are producing fruit within us and they will in due time begin producing fruit in our spouse. So says the Lord if we only believe and have patience in waiting for Him.

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

All things, even the suffering, and evil the Lord puts into our path are working together for good of those who believe [Rom 8:28]. To become like our Lord we ourselves must be taught patience and longsuffering. Our Lord long suffers with us, giving us the example of long-suffering with our spouses.

To remove those trials is in opposition to the true works of God. The believing few are sanctifying the unbelieving both at home now and in the age to come to the whole world. We are being made ministers and sent to those who shall be heirs of salvation.

Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hard trials in marriage are a great proving ground of our faith to see if we will work the work of God or not.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

It is going thru these tribulations and trials that is making us worthy in the kingdom of God.

2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Our food and drink as the Body of Christ is to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood [Joh 6:53]. Thatis the only way we find eternal life. We best not water this down with the reasonings of Esau which is our carnal mind. The Lord says such offerings are contemptible to the Lord.

Mal 1:7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

Mal 1:8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

Those that belong to Christ have been bought with a price and live no longer for themselves but unto God. If the Lord, who is working all things, puts us in an unhealthy marriage regardless of the physical and emotional issues involved, our most basic command is to stand and endure what the Lord has worked. The righteous are never moved, it is always the unbelievers who depart.

Psa 21:7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

Navigating the narrow way in marriage, like all issues of life require us to put on Christ and not make any provision for our flesh in our actions.

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

As the day of the Lord approaches, the fire of “Day 3” is going to separate the few chosen from the many called when our bondage to Christ and adversity of our sufferings begin to manifest.

Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Those few having received the promise of the resurrection, will not be accusing and excusing under the law of the Gentiles. Instead, they will turn down immediate deliverance and escape from trials so that they might attain to the better promise. Paul wrote of those examples of faith so we might embrace the high calling.

Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

These hard to understand and accept truths will similarly grieve many yet they are the narrow way to eternal life which is knowing the Lord and His Father [Joh 17:3].

Seeking the Lord

When we begin to reason on the commandments, we open the door for strife and contention over what is the narrow way. This is the danger of reasoning off the top line commandment of marriage. For example, what is abuse can be a widely different standard depending on many factors. We must truly be wise and wary of any such carnal reasoning and bring those thoughts into subjection to the commandments. Where we have sincere questions, we are to ask the Lord, go to His Word and Commandments for wisdom when needed.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Luk 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Luk 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

When we are in trouble and need guidance in a marriage, we are to seek the Lord [His Word and Commands] as only He can give us life and deliver us.

Psa 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Pro 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

This does not mean we don’t seek counsel from others but we need to weigh all such counsel against the Lord’s commandments and the high calling. We have so many warnings about the last days and the deceptions we will face as we earnestly contend for the faith.

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We should always look within ourselves first to see if our ways please the Lord. That inward focus could change our circumstances.

Pro 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

It is incumbent for the believer to always ask herself or himself, “am I acting in the faith of Christ, am I obeying the commands”?

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

We should look to ourselves and evaluate our obedience [godly love] to the Lord in seeking to win over our spouse. This is the same as nourishing our enemies by living the example of Christ providing them spiritual bread to eat and water to drink.

Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

We need to grow in contentment as the day of the Lord is all about suffering in the flesh.

1Ti 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

1Ti 6:8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

We have a body and a multitude of counselors to whom we can seek further help and encouragement along with our own work for the Lord. These matters should be handled with the utmost privacy as we tempt not anyone with the spirit of gossip.

Pro 11:14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

The issues in this study are important matters of spiritual life and death. Anyone battling hard issues in a marriage should seek counsel in private. Come to the mature brothers or sisters to help you weigh the whole counsel of God and have peace in your heart of what is doing righteousness.

1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things[asking in His name – according to faith] that are pleasing in his sight.

The Lord is working all things for good and the counsel of His will including all our trials in physical marriage. The Lord knows what we need and will create the circumstances to accomplish His will in our life. He does not need our help in going to the world’s courts to seek divorce to bring His will about and perform His strange work within us.

Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Final Admonition

If we are being saved in this age, a day comes when we will face the fierce opposition to the truth that the Lord, Paul and the disciples faced. When those persecutions and contentions come to sway us away from the truth, we cannot give in even for an hour.

Gal 2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

When the commands of the Lord are replaced with many questions and reasonings about specific situations we best beware and know the trial of our faith is at hand. We are to flee from such idolatry.

Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

The day of the Lord is at hand when Christ arises within us and we stand on faith and preach the gospel. Those found worthy will be persecuted and hated by their own people. The Jews put Christ on trial and our faith will also be tested the same as our Lord’s. May we all be counted worthy in our hour of trial.

Act 23:6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

Marriage is very hard, even for godly couples. But as hard as it is, the Lord is able, He is even stronger. Don’t sell the Lord short in unbelief and trust in Him.

Psa 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

When we trust the Lord and stand in the face of great adversity that is when the Lord steps in and delivers His people. We can do all things in Christ but being in Christ means we have to stand on faith alone and walk the gospel.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Many of us began well in faith but grow weary and fall back into perdition. I pray this study will prick the hearts of everyone and awaken them from their sleep in the same way others have already been awakened.

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.